The elder Means, an early leader of the American Indian Movement (AIM), was a celebrated actor who appeared in such productions as The Last of the Mohicans, Natural Born Killers, and Into the West. He died of cancer on October 22, 2012.

Russell Means' character on Banshee, Benjamin Longshadow, appeared on four episodes before being killed off. According to Zap2It, Tatanka Means will play Hoyt Rivers, head of security for Benjamin's son Alex Longshadow, played by Anthony Ruvivar. Tatanka Means will appear in approximately five episodes, and other actors will be joining the show for a plotline that incorporates the fictional Kinaho tribe, which operates the Kinaho Moon casino.

"It will feel comforting to work and be with others who had the pleasure of knowing and working alongside my Dad," Tatanka Means told Zap2It. "I look forward to hearing stories of his time on set with everyone. He is my inspiration. Banshee is exciting, I hope my character's involvement will add to another level of excitement."More on the series:

Banshee (TV series)Banshee is an American drama television series created by Jonathan Tropper and David Schickler, who serve as executive producers along with Alan Ball, Greg Yaitanes and Peter Macdissi. The series is set in a small town in Pennsylvania Amish country and features an enigmatic ex-con posing as a murdered sheriff who imposes his own brand of justice while also cooking up plans that serve his own interests.Comment: Uh, there are no federally recognized tribes in Pennsylvania, and thus no Indian casinos. Oops.